2021 Hyundai Kona Problems, Recalls & Reliability
148 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2021 Hyundai Kona, alongside 1 recall campaign and 1 defect investigation. It scores 54/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 35,500 miles.
Below average
Where 2021 sits among all Kona years
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Kona. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V301000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 Kona
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 30 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 35,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 15,000 and 86,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (1)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Hyundai will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. Owner notification letters were mailed…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 22V063000.
Technical service bulletins
64 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2021 Hyundai Kona. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2021 Hyundai Kona reliable?
The 2021 Hyundai Kona drew 148 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 54/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2021 Hyundai Kona problems?
The top reported problems for the 2021 Hyundai Kona are engine (77 complaints), other (18), and transmission & drivetrain (14).
At what mileage do 2021 Hyundai Kona problems show up?
Owners most often report 2021 Hyundai Kona problems around 35,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 15,000 and 86,000 miles.
Does the 2021 Hyundai Kona have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 2021 Hyundai Kona. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.